Box Score GUNNISON, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University men's basketball team led by as many as 12 in the second half when Western State Colorado University came back on their way to defeating the Mustangs, 80-71, Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


"We played well enough to win, but we just don't finish," first-year head coach Jeff Law said. "Too much penetration on their part killed us. We got too loose offensively at the wrong time and let them right back in the game."


WSCU (3-19, 3-15 RMAC) held an early four-point lead five minutes in. WNMU (1-20, 1-17 RMAC) posted a 15-14 lead near the midway point of the half on a jumper by freshman Enrique Borroel (El Paso, TX/Riverside).


The teams would then trade leads throughout the rest of the half until junior forward Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley) connected on a three at the 1:43 mark for a four-point lead, 35-31. The Mustangs would add foul shots by Castrillo and sophomore guard Eric Schalk (Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo) to go in front by eight before a late jumper by Jordan Adams left WNMU ahead at the break, 41-35.


Ahead by just three early into the second half, Castrillo helped jump start a 9-0 run over a two minute span to push the lead to 12. Following Castrillo's jumper, senior center Brelan Berry (Chandler, AZ/Basha High School) added a jumper and after a three-pointer by sophomore guard Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver), Berry ended the run with a layup in transition for a 52-40 lead.


The Mountaineers would work their way back into the game countering with a 7-0 run to get to within five with 14:16 to play. The momentum continued as WSCU went in front by six at the 7:56 mark on a three by Jake Braddy, 63-57.


WNMU kept fighting back with Kesler hitting a three a few minutes later to draw the Mustangs to within four and later a foul shot by Castrillo had the deficit at just three, 70-67, with 2:44 to play.


After WSCU went back up by five a pair of times, junior point guard Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) would hit a pair of free throws and later a dunk by Berry had the Mountaineers still ahead by just three, 74-71, with 1:25 to play.


Adams then put WSCU ahead for good on the next trip down the floor as his three-point-play gave the Mountaineers a 77-71 lead with just a minute to play.


Castrillo led the Mustangs with 19 points, along with eight rebounds. Berry and Kesler also reached double-figures posting 11 points apiece. Adams led WSCU and all-scorers going for 28 points.


WSCU shot nearly 53 percent from the field (27-51), while WNMU made 23-of-55 (41.8). They also held a 6-5 three-point edge over the Mustangs and each team made 20 free throws.


WNMU will play at Colorado Mesa Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Mavericks beat New Mexico Highlands, 97-80, earlier tonight.